Seismic reflection

Abstract

Seismic imaging of carbonate platforms and coral reefs has markedly improved with the advent of modern 2D and 3D seismic data. Reflection seismic imaging does present challenges because of the unique characteristics of reefs, including high velocities, abrupt lateral facies changes, and steeply dipping fore-slope deposits. These result in lowered resolution, and diffractions and dispersion of elastic seismic waves that degrade the seismic images. Characteristic seismic facies include (1) mounded to chaotic seismic of reef margin and reef core lithofacies; (2) parallel, concordant reflectivity in back-reef and platform interior settings; (3) sigmoid to oblique prograding seismic facies in fore-slope environments, and (4) convergent to parallel reflection character in the toe-of-slope to basin settings. Karst dissolution is expressed as concave upward and chaotic seismic facies in sinkhole and karst collapse terrains, and as positive relief, tower, and pinnacle features.